--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Many Christians assume that we can just…" description: "\"“Many Christians assume that we can just experience God in a personal relationship apart from doctrine, but that’s impossible. You cannot experience Go..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64d/michael-s-horton-7082_christianity_many-christians-assume-that-we-can-just_2187541.jpg" --- # Many Christians assume that we can just experience God in… ![“Many Christians assume that we can just experience God in a personal relationship apart from doctrine, but that’s impossible. You cannot experience God without knowing who he is, what he has done, and who you are in relation to him.” quote by Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64d/michael-s-horton-7082_christianity_many-christians-assume-that-we-can-just_2187541.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64d/michael-s-horton-7082_christianity_many-christians-assume-that-we-can-just_2187541.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64d/michael-s-horton-7082_christianity_many-christians-assume-that-we-can-just_2187541.jpg) > ““Many Christians assume that we can just experience God in a personal relationship apart from doctrine, but that’s impossible. You cannot experience God without knowing who he is, what he has done, and who you are in relation to him.”” [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding God requires knowledge of His nature, actions, and our relationship to Him; personal experience alone is insufficient. **In simple terms:** Knowing God is needed to truly experience Him. Key Takeaway Study doctrine to deepen relationship. Themes theology relationship knowledge Mood reflective serious Type theological educational When to use this quote - personal prayer - Bible study - church teaching - spiritual counseling Key Concepts Christology soteriology anthropology Questions to Reflect On - How does doctrine shape your personal faith? - What aspects of God’s character are you most drawn to? A Different Perspective Doctrine can be abstract and hard to grasp without practical context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Personal relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-relationship/) ## Related quotes > [“Many Christians assume that we can just experience God in a personal relationship apart from doctrine, but that’s impossible. You cannot experience God without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-horton/many-christians-assume-that-we-can-just-experience-god-in-a-personal/) [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) > [I believe in God, and that's a personal relationship that I have, but I'm not religious in any way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-jonas/i-believe-in-god-and-that-s-a-personal-relationship-that-i-have-but-i/) [Joe Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-jonas/) > [I do my best to try to keep God with me on a personal level. 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It is knowing that God will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stein/faith-is-not-believing-that-god-can-it-is-knowing-that-god-will/) [Ben Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stein/) > [If there's one thing that really annoys a god, it's not knowing something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/if-there-s-one-thing-that-really-annoys-a-god-it-s-not-knowing/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [So we can only know God well by knowing our iniquities. Therefore those who have known God, without knowing their wretchedness, have not glorified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/so-we-can-only-know-god-well-by-knowing-our-iniquities-therefore/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [No one can desire the love of God without first knowing human love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/no-one-can-desire-the-love-of-god-without-first-knowing-human-love/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“GERTRUDE Gertrude Appleman, 1901-1976 God is all-knowing, all-present, and almighty. --A Catechism of Christian Doctrine I wish that all the people who peddle God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-appleman/gertrude-gertrude-appleman-1901-1976-god-is-all-knowing-all-present/) [Philip Appleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-appleman/) > [If God is all knowing and he knows our future, then how is that free will?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-god-is-all-knowing-and-he-knows-our-future-then-how-is-that-free/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I've learned that sometimes I have to give up my right to know and simply believe that God's knowing is enough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beverly-lewis/i-ve-learned-that-sometimes-i-have-to-give-up-my-right-to-know-and/) [Beverly Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beverly-lewis/) > [“When and how the most painful of situations is going to be resolved and redeemed is no mystery to God. Knowing this truth about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/when-and-how-the-most-painful-of-situations-is-going-to-be-resolved/) [Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/) > [If God is all knowing why did He create Satan whom He knew would fall?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-god-is-all-knowing-why-did-he-create-satan-whom-he-knew-would-fall/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If, therefore, in the present time also, God, knowing the number of those who will not believe, since He foreknows all things, has given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/if-therefore-in-the-present-time-also-god-knowing-the-number-of-those/) The Church Fathers ## More by Michael S. 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